Congress – America’s nightmare

I dreamed I had come up with a solution to America’s greatest problem – eliminate congress. Unfortunately when I awakened I was in greater distress because the television was on and congress was in session, duly haggling away. Tragically, I awoke from my dream to our nation’s continuing nightmare.
Politics and congressional gridlock have come to dominate America’s way of life. We have come to live and breathe the tension of Capitol Hill through the internet and cable television. People have chosen sides or removed themselves totally from the fray in order to enjoy their remaining days of life.
Hold everything; now there is an idea. Totally shut off CNN, MSNBC, Fox, NBC and all news feeds from The Washington Post and New York Times and just simply have a marvelous day! In the meantime totally unplug from Facebook and Twitter and separate yourself from your computer because every time you log on you are bombarded with something to incite you or suck you into the daily fray for all. Hey, pal, is this really the life you dreamed of living?
My fear is that, if I keep my head buried in the sand, I will pull it out and Islamic State will be driving down my road dragging my neighbors by their necks with a noose reserved for me.
I don’t want that for my neighbors or for me. I have to try to stay with it because, if we Americans all go on our merry way neglecting what freedoms we have left, we will soon have no freedoms at all.
So, I say this to you dear friend: Let us not give up on doing what is right. There are little children in this country who deserve a free and safe place to live. We must stay alert and do our part every day. This doesn’t mean that we don’t get a little sick and tired, though.
Many of us were irked last week with how the new healthcare bill played out. I want a new healthcare bill as badly as anyone but hold the phone. Buying insurance across state lines was not part of the new proposal. If I had been there voting, then I would have had to say no deal.
All we have heard about for two years is the promise to rein in the insurance businesses and give Americans a chance at more reasonable, competitive insurance rates. Capitol Hill still has a lot of work to do on a new healthcare bill.
Medicaid has to be fixed. It should be for the very poor and the truly disabled only. There also should be a lifetime limit on the program. Healthy poor citizens should be limited to a maximum of five years on Medicaid with never more than a two-year increment
of program coverage.
Claimants should have to go off the system for a year before being allowed back in. When your five years are complete, then it’s over. Five years should give people enough time to move to a part of the country where they can find a sustaining job.
Also, any healthcare bill that hints of bailing out insurance companies will not work. They make billions in profits and must be responsible. Bailing out banks and insurance companies will only add to America’s debt and lust for more of your tax dollars.
Find some ways to relax and live the life you have dreamed about. Your first step is to
disconnect from anything that plugs you into congress and Capitol Hill. But wait – don’t stay unplugged for ever because you might not have an America to join when you try to reconnect.Glenn Mollette is an American author whosesyndicated column is readin all 50 states.